Two CBP agents identified in Alex Pretti shooting

Federal Immigration Agents Face Backlash for Deadly Minneapolis Shooting

Two US federal immigration agents have been identified as the shooters in a deadly encounter with 37-year-old Alex Pretti, who was killed in Minneapolis last weekend. The agents were Border Patrol agent Jesus Ochoa, 43, and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer Raymundo Gutierrez, 35. Both men are part of Operation Metro Surge, an immigration enforcement dragnet launched in December.

The incident has sparked outrage across the country, with many calling for a transparent investigation into the killing. President Donald Trump's aggressive immigration crackdown has led to scenes of violence against immigrants and US citizens in cities across the United States, with federal agents often hiding their identities behind masks.

Ochoa joined CBP in 2018, while Gutierrez started working there in 2014 and is part of a special response team that conducts high-risk operations. Both men are from South Texas and have been placed on leave following the shooting.

In the aftermath of Pretti's killing, top Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino was removed from his role due to his involvement in organizing high-intensity immigration sweeps and arrests in Democratic-led cities.

The incident has highlighted concerns about transparency in law enforcement, particularly when it comes to federal immigration agents. Many are calling for a more transparent investigation into the killing of Pretti, who was unarmed at the time of the encounter with CBP officers.

Lawmakers from both parties have expressed outrage over the incident and are demanding that the Justice Department conduct a thorough investigation. "We must have a transparent, independent investigation into the Minnesota shooting, and those responsible—no matter their title—must be held accountable," said Republican Sen. John Curtis of Utah.

Critics argue that immigration agents should not wear masks and should be identifiable, with clear rules of engagement to prevent them from terrorizing and intimidating civilians. The Justice Department has declined to release body-camera footage, citing a need for an ongoing investigation.

The incident has also raised questions about the use of force by federal officers in high-pressure situations. Former CBP commissioner Gil Kerlikowske said that the scene could have been de-escalated if the agents had not used pepper spray immediately.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz promised to conduct his state's own criminal investigation into Pretti's killing, adding fuel to the outrage across the country.

This whole thing is super worrying, y'know? It makes you wonder what we're doing to our fellow humans, just because they're trying to make a living here. These agents were supposed to be enforcing laws, not taking lives. And now we're talking about transparency and accountability... it's like, basic human decency, right? I mean, what would happen if the tables turned and one of those agents was in the shoes of someone being targeted by immigration enforcement? We need to have some real conversations about this stuff and make sure our laws are serving people, not just punishing them. And can we please talk about de-escalation techniques? Those officers could've diffused that situation a long time ago... it's all about perspective, y'know?

Come on , what's everyone so worked up about? Two dudes get their badges and suddenly they're targets . A little mask-wearing ain't gonna hurt nobody . And what's with all the drama over transparency? Can't we just have a chill conversation about this? The system's already got checks in place, it's not like these agents are just getting away scot-free .

I mean, look at Bovino, he gets demoted for organizing sweeps and arrests, but can't even get fired . It's all about the optics now . And what about the pepper spray? Was it really necessary? Sounds like a hot mess .

Let's not forget, this guy Pretti was armed with a backpack ... I mean, who carries a backpack to the store without checking for guns? Okay, okay, maybe that's not fair . But seriously, how many times do we have to tell these agents to keep their cool? It's basic de-escalation 101 .

Anyway, can't wait to see what other "outcomes" this investigation comes out with . Stay tuned, folks!

this is so upsetting I'm still trying to process what happened it's just not right that these agents were able to get away with wearing masks and using pepper spray in a situation where Alex was clearly unarmed what's next? are we gonna start seeing more of these situations where innocent ppl get caught up in the drama because of the actions of rogue agents?

can't believe what's happening in this country... two fed agents are supposed to be law enforcement but they're acting like cowboys on a mission from god . no masks, no transparency, just bullets flying everywhere. and now another top border patrol guy is gone too? what's going on here? these agents are getting away with murder and it's all because of trump's push for immigration crackdowns . news at 11 say "transparent investigation"... yeah right . i'm so done with the system.

I'm so concerned about this incident! It's like something out of a movie where the bad guys wear masks and get away with their crimes . I mean, what even is Operation Metro Surge? Sounds like a scene from The Shield to me . And now two agents are dead because of it . Can we please just see some transparency here? It's all about accountability and making sure these officers aren't above the law . I'm also worried about how this incident is going to affect the community, especially the immigrant ones who already feel so vulnerable . We need to make sure that our law enforcement is serving the people, not terrorizing them . Let's hope for a thorough investigation and some real answers soon .

I'm only seeing this now... like a week after it happened. Anyway, I think it's wild that these agents were part of an "enforcement dragnet" and they just ended up shooting someone who was unarmed. It raises so many questions about accountability and transparency in law enforcement, especially when it comes to federal immigration agents.

I mean, why are they wearing masks? That's already super intimidating, right? And now we find out that one of them had pepper spray on hand... that's just too much. I feel like there should be clear rules of engagement and more oversight, you know?

And what really gets me is that the Justice Department is playing it close to the chest with all this info. Like, release those body-camera clips already! This whole thing feels super fishy, and I'm not buying that it was just a "heat of the moment" situation. There needs to be some real scrutiny here...

OMG, this is totally unacceptable . I mean, two US federal immigration agents just straight up killed an unarmed guy in Minneapolis and nobody knows what happened before that? It's like they're above the law or something . And can we talk about how crazy it is that they were wearing masks to hide their identities? Like, what are we even dealing with here?

I'm so tired of these immigration agents acting like they're some kind of vigilantes. They need to be held accountable for their actions and have a transparent investigation done ASAP . And can we please talk about the need for clear rules of engagement and de-escalation techniques? This would've avoided the whole thing if they'd just taken a step back .

I'm so proud of lawmakers from both parties who are speaking out against this tragedy and demanding justice . We need to make sure that everyone, regardless of their immigration status, is treated with dignity and respect . This incident needs to be a wake-up call for us all to demand better .

man this is so messed up the fact that these agents were hiding behind masks and still managed to kill someone unarmed is just insane ... I mean who gets a badge and a gun but can't even be identified in public? it's like they're above the law or something... and now we gotta wait for the Justice Department to figure out what happened because apparently the body cam footage is too sensitive it's like they're hiding something. meanwhile, our leaders are just shaking their heads and saying "we must have a transparent investigation" but where was that transparency when the agents were making decisions on who to shoot? did they even have protocols in place for situations like this? I don't know about you guys but I'm calling for some serious accountability here

I'm still trying to process what happened in Minneapolis last weekend... those federal agents are supposed to be enforcing laws, not taking lives! I mean, Operation Metro Surge is literally a code word for "go out there and terrorize people" . And now they're getting backlash for it? What did we expect?! They wore masks the whole time, no wonder they were so hard to identify!

And can we talk about how transparent this investigation is supposed to be? The Justice Department's all like "oh, we need an ongoing investigation" and just ignores the cameras... it's suspicious. I hope Rep. John Curtis is right and those responsible get held accountable. But come on, guys! Can't we just see some footage?! And what's with this pepper spray business? If they wouldn't use that, why would anyone think things would've ended peacefully?!

I'm so sick of the whole system being so broken... when is someone gonna stand up and demand change?!

[Image of a person wearing a mask with a red X through it]

This is getting crazy . I mean can't they just follow protocol and be transparent about who they are? It's like, no masks, no hiding behind anonymity . These agents need to know that their actions have consequences and the public needs to see what's really going down . The fact that they're even wearing masks in a high-pressure situation is already suspicious . And now they've got two officers who are on leave, but still getting paid ... it just don't sit right with me . We need real accountability here and I'm calling for a thorough investigation . Can we please just get some answers about what really happened? The lack of transparency is killing me .

I'm so worried about what's happening in the US right now. This kind of thing is just crazy! Two agents wearing masks and shooting a guy who didn't even do anything wrong? It's like something out of a movie, but it's real life and people are getting hurt .

We need to know more about what happened and how these officers were trained for this situation. I don't trust the investigation being led by the Justice Department right now - it seems too slow and secretive .

And can we talk about how ridiculous it is that these agents are wearing masks? It's like they're trying to hide something, but we already know what happened . They should be held accountable for their actions and face consequences for putting innocent lives at risk .

It's not just this one incident that's the problem - it's a culture of fear and mistrust between law enforcement and the communities they're supposed to protect . We need to do better, we need to have more transparency and accountability in our institutions .

The whole thing is just so messed up. I mean, can't we all just get along? These agents were supposed to be protecting us, but they ended up taking an innocent life. It's like, what's the point of even having a system if people are just gonna go around using excessive force and ignoring basic human rights?

And don't even get me started on the whole "we need to know who these agents are" thing. Like, yeah, that makes total sense... until you realize that most of us wouldn't want to be tracked down and arrested by some faceless drone in a mask. It's like, have some compassion, guys!

The fact that they're getting placed on leave but still get to hide behind their masks is just ridiculous. And what about the accountability? If they're gonna wear uniforms, at least make them identifiable so we can all hold them accountable for their actions.

It's time for some real change in our country. We need to start valuing human life over politics and xenophobia.

OMG, this is soooo messed up ! I cant even believe what happened in Minneapolis last weekend... 37 years old man just walking down the street and boom, two agents from Operation Metro Surge shoot him dead . And now they're hiding behind masks like cowards? What's next, gonna wear ninja costumes too?

I'm so done with this whole immigration system, it's like they think people are just invisible or something . I mean, how many times do we gotta see innocent ppl get caught in the crossfire because of some bureaucratic red tape? It's just not right .

And what's up with the Justice Dept declining to release body-cam footage? Do they really think that's gonna help them cover their tracks? Newsflash, guys: transparency is key! We need to know what's going on behind those masks. And a thorough investigation is long overdue. The least we deserve is some answers .

I'm seriously considering boycotting CBP and all the other agencies involved in this mess . How about them just take off their masks for good? It's time for change, folks!

This is getting out of hand! I mean, what's next? Agents hiding behind masks and spraying pepper spray on innocent people? It's like they're more interested in intimidating the public than doing their actual job. And now they're getting a slap on the wrist by being placed on leave?

And let's not forget about the lack of transparency, fam! The Justice Department is stonewalling us with that body-camera footage. Can you imagine if this was a police officer who shot and killed someone in cold blood, there'd be a public outcry! But because it's an immigration agent? Different story altogether.

The fact that we're having to have this conversation about what kind of behavior is acceptable for federal agents is a reflection of the systemic issues within our country. We need stricter accountability mechanisms and more oversight to prevent situations like this from happening again. It's time to rethink the way we approach immigration enforcement!

This whole thing is just super messed up... I mean, a guy gets shot and killed by two immigration agents, and now we're talking about transparency in law enforcement? It's not like this is some isolated incident, we've seen these kinds of things happen before, especially with Operation Metro Surge. The fact that the Justice Department won't release body-camera footage until an investigation is complete just makes it worse... I mean, what are they hiding?

And can we talk about the masks for a second? Immigration agents shouldn't be wearing masks in public, it's like they're hiding behind some kind of anonymity. It's already scary enough when you see them in their uniforms, but then to make it even more intimidating by covering their faces... no thanks.

It's also super concerning that we've seen this kind of militarization of immigration enforcement. It's not like the agents are just trying to do their job, they're being used as a tool for the government to intimidate and control certain communities. And now we're seeing politicians from both parties calling for more transparency in law enforcement? It's about time...

I don't think we should be letting this incident slide without some serious answers. We need to know what happened that day, who was involved, and why it got so out of hand. The fact that we've seen the top Border Patrol commander get removed from his role over this just shows how far up the chain of command this went. It's not just about one guy getting killed, it's about a whole system of oppression that needs to be looked at.

The fact that these two agents were hiding behind masks is super concerning - shouldn't they be easily identifiable in case of an incident like this? It just seems so suspicious and it's totally reasonable for people to demand more transparency from law enforcement, especially when there are reports of pepper spray being used without a de-escalation attempt. A proper investigation should definitely shed some light on what really went down...

this whole thing is just so messed up... i mean, we're already living in a world where cops and immigration agents are wearing masks and hiding their identities, it's like they're not even human beings anymore . and now they're killing unarmed people and getting away with it? it's like we're giving them a free pass to just do whatever they want.

and can we talk about the lack of transparency for a second? like, what are they hiding behind this "ongoing investigation" nonsense? shouldn't we have access to that footage and know what really went down? it's like they're trying to cover up some serious wrongdoing.

i don't get why people can't just demand accountability from these agents. they're not just enforcing the law, they're enforcing a system of oppression that targets certain communities . we need to be having real conversations about this stuff, not just reacting to it after the fact.

I'm totally blown away by this crazy news ... two federal immigration agents are under fire for a deadly shooting in Minneapolis that killed an unarmed man. The thing that really gets my goat is that these guys were wearing masks and their identities were hidden behind them, which makes it super hard to know who's accountable for what happened.

I think it's time we start questioning the whole idea of federal immigration agents wearing masks and hiding their faces - isn't that just begging for this kind of thing to happen? It's like they're trying to avoid being held responsible. And now they're both on leave, but I'm sure they'll be back to business as usual soon enough.

The Justice Department needs to come clean about what really happened here and make sure those responsible are held accountable. We need transparency, not some vague excuse about an ongoing investigation . And let's not forget that the whole Operation Metro Surge thing has been causing a lot of tension and fear in communities already. It's time for some serious reform and accountability.

The fact that top Border Patrol commanders can be removed from their roles just because they're involved in high-intensity sweeps is a good start, but we need to go further than that. We need systemic changes to prevent this kind of thing from happening again - like requiring immigration agents to identify themselves when interacting with civilians.

It's not just about the two agents who were involved in the shooting; it's about the whole system and culture that led up to this moment. We need to take a hard look at ourselves and our values as a society, because right now, we're just perpetuating a cycle of fear and violence against people who are already vulnerable.